SEYMOUR AND STRATFORD RECEIVE SCHOOL SECURITY GRANTS

November 14, 2013

Hartford, CT – State Senator Kevin Kelly (R-21) applauds the towns of Seymour and Stratford for their recently awarded School Security Grants. As part of the Gun Violence Prevention and Children’s Safety Act, funding of $90,282 for Seymour and $748,621 for Stratford will be used to reimburse the towns for some of the costs associated with security infrastructure improvements made after the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown.

“I’m happy to see that the towns of Seymour and Stratford successfully pursued funds to enhance their security systems,” said Senator Kelly. “When we send our children to school we need to know that the school is the safest learning environment that it can be. These funds take important steps toward making our schools safer and more secure. Our community welcomes this funding to support many necessary security enhancements.”

Seymour was awarded $90,282 from the state and was able to provide a local match of $54,168. These funds will be applied to security improvements in two local schools.

The Stratford school district received $748,621 from state funding, and the town provided matching funds of $521,728. Funds in Seymour will be used to support safety enhancements in nine schools. This is the second time the School Security Grant Program provided funds to Stratford. The town also received $135,334 from the state in September.

The School Security Grant Program is administered by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP), the Department of Education (SDE), and the Department of Construction Services (DCS). The funding will go to schools with the most need i.e. — buildings with little or no existing security infrastructure located in school districts. The improvements can include:

  • development or improvement of security infrastructure
  • school personnel training in the operation and maintenance of the new or improved security structure
  • purchase of portable entrance security devices, including metal detector wands, screening machines, and related training
  • installation of surveillance cameras
  • penetration resistant vestibules
  • ballistic glass
  • solid core doors
  • double-door access
  • computer-controlled electronic locks
  • entry door buzzer systems
  • scan card systems
  • panic alarms or other systems

Each municipality will be reimbursed between 20 and 80 percent according to town wealth, as defined in subdivision (26) of section 10-262f of the Connecticut General Statutes. In this group of awards, funds from municipalities, which total $15,297,388 will be matched with $16,001,146 in state funding for an overall $31,298,534 investment in school security among 435 schools.

The School Security Grant Program has awarded a total of $21 million covering 604 schools as a result of funding allocated in September and November.

One more additional round of funding is expected to be awarded in next year.

Please refer to the DESPP website for more information on how to apply for a school safety competitive grant.